1996 Ford F-350 Problems

CRACKING SIDEWALLS CAUSING BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASS. SIDE. *TR

BLOW OUT. *LA

1/07 SQUEAK IN FRONT LEFT WHEEL, TOOK TO SEARS AS BRAKES/BEARINGS UNDER WARRANTY. ENDED UP W/ COMPLETE BRAKE JOB FRONT & REAR. PICKED UP VEHICLE, POOR PEDAL PRESSURE, NO E-BRAKE. TOOK BACK TO SEARS THEY ADJUSTED. IN APRIL HAD REAR BRAKES FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE WHILE PULLING HORSE TRAILER. ONLY FRONT BRAKES ENGAGED. TOOK BACK COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. TOOK TO ANOTHER SHOP THEY FOUND ONLY PADS REPLACED ON RT REAR NOT ON LEFT. THEY DID COMPLETE BRAKE JOB ON REAR (NEW DRUMS AND PADS) TOOK IN 2 WEEKS LATER STILL NOT CORRECT AND HAD VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. ENDED UP WITH RE-SURFACE OF FRONT ROTORS AND NEW PADS. 7/29/07 PULLING HORSE TRAILER REAR ENDED VEHICLE ON 19TH AVE IN SF DUE TO REAR BRAKES NOT ENGAGING AT ALL. ONLY FRONTS ENGAGED. REAR BRAKES NOT WORKING AT ALL. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE FLUID CAUSED CORROSION ON THE BRAKE FITTINGS. ON AUGUST 7, 2003 THE FRONT BRAKES FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS GOING UP HILL. THE FORD DEALER REPLACED THE TUBING AND FITTINGS. ON MAY 24, 2004 THE REAR BRAKES FAILED WHILE HE IN A PARKING LOT. AGAIN THE FORD DEALER REPLACED THE TUBING AND FITTINGS. ON NOVEMBER 1, 2005 THE MASTER CYLINDER EXPERIENCED CORROSION AT THE BRAKE FITTINGS, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO FAIL. THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID POURING OUT OF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP DRAINED THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND REPLACED THE LINE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2004 - *NM

I HAD THE CMP SENSOR (CAM POSITION SENSOR, F6TZ-12K073-A) REPLACED AT 83,733 MILES AND AGAIN AT 88,500 MILES. THE ENGINE RUNS ROUGH FOR 3 SECONDS AND DIES. IT WILL CRANK BUT NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC AND CMP SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *TR

THE EXISTING RECALL 07V-553 (CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR ON FORD 1997-2003 F-SUPER DUTY, E-SERIES, AND EXCURSION VEHICLES WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES) SEEMS TO BE INCORRECTLY NARROW IN SCOPE. I HAVE A 1996 F-350 WITH THE SAME 7.3L DIESEL ENGINE NOTED IN THE RECALL, AND HAD THE EXACT FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL. I HAD IT REPAIRED AT A FORD DEALERSHIP ON SEPT 21, 2007, AND CAN PROVIDE COMPLETE DOCUMENTED INFORMATION FROM THAT REPAIR. WHY DID FORD NOT INCLUDE F-SERIES TRUCKS THAT USE THE 7.3L ENGINE (SUCH AS THE F-350) IN THIS RECALL? WHY IS IT LIMITED TO 1997 AND NEWER? THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES OUT THERE ON THE ROAD (SUCH AS MINE) THAT HAVE A SIMILAR POTENTIAL TO FAIL. THIS IS A DIFFICULT PROBLEM TO DIAGNOSE; THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN (JANUARY 2007). MY PROBLEM WENT ON FOR MORE THAN A YEAR (WITH MOMENTARY POWER LOSSES AND ENGINE STALLS SHORTLY AFTER STARTUP) BEFORE IT PROGRESSED TO SERIOUS DRIVABLE ISSUES THAT WERE FREQUENT ENOUGH THEY COULD BE DIAGNOSED BY THE FORD DEALER. CAMSHAFT SENSOR FAILURE CAUSES THE ENGINE COMPUTER TO MAKE THE ENGINE STALL. UNFORTUNATELY, AT THAT STAGE THE DRIVABLE ISSUES ALSO BECOME DANGEROUS. I AM SEEKING AN EXPANSION OF THIS RECALL TO COVER ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE CAM SENSOR FAILURES, AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR EXPENSES I PAID THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY THIS RECALL. *TR

ON 1/30/09 I EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON MY FORD F-350 DUE TO A FAULTY SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. I JUST HAPPENED TO WALK OUT TO THE VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, NOT RUNNING, TO SEE A GLOW UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. I OPENED THE HOOD AND REALIZED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE COMING FROM THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. AFTER EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE, AND BURNING MY HANDS, I COULD SEE THAT THE RESERVOIR WAS MELTED AND THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH IS WHERE THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F350. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED BECAUSE THE PART FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS UNAVAILABLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

FRONT HUBS NOT LOCKING IN, CAUSING LOSS OF 4-WHEEL DRIVE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE STUCK. ALSO THE TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMISSION WERE GOING IN BUT NO POWER IN FRONT WHEELS. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS A FACTORY DEFAULT. *YH

DELIVERED NEW 22 MAR. 1996. TAKEN IN AT 16768 MILES ON 10-DEC. 96 FOR HARD SHIFTING OF AUTO. TRANS. ANDOIL LEAK FROM FRONT MAIN ENGINE SEAL. WAAS RETURNED TWO WKS. LATER FOR REAR ENGINE SEAL LEAK. MECHANICS REPLACED PARTS AND ADJ. TRANS. ENGINE OIL LEAKS STOPPED, BUT STILL HAD TRANS. SHIFT PROBLEMS. FRONT WHEELS BEGIN TO PULL HARD TO LEFT AFTER BEING TAKEN IN TO DEALER TO HAVE TIRES ROTATED. THEY HAD TO BE FORCED OFF HUB BY TWO MEN. FRONT END ALIGNEMENTS WERE DONE BUT AT 65000 MILES WHEELS STILL PULL TO THE LEFT. FIRESTONE 235/85/16 TIRE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF CRACKS IN BELTS BETWEEN TREAD. COST WAS PRORATED. TAKEN IN 02 APR. 97. STILL HAVING SHIFT PROBLEMS WITH TRANS. OIL LEAK FROM ENGINE OIL PAN AND PUMP GASKET. 30MAY 97 TAKEN IN FOR BOTH HEADLIGHT FAILURE. TRANS STILL HARD TO SHIFT. MECHANICS UNABLE TODETERMINE PROBLEM. IN AUG. 2000 TRUCK WAS IN AGAIN FOR SHIFT PROBLEMS AND TRANS SLIPPING. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING IN GEORGIA, PULLING A 36FT. FIFTHWHEEL WHEN TRANS. HAD A HARD TIME DOWNSHIFTING. THE TRANS. WAS LOCKED OUT OF OVERDRIVE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH. AND STARTED UP A HILL WHEN THE TRANS. WOULDN'T DOWN SHIFT. THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN TO 40 MPH. IN LESS THAN THAN 60 SECONDS, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HAD PROBLEMS PULLIN THE REST OF THE WAY TO MICHIGAN. THIS WAS LATE IN THE EVENING WHEN SHOPS ARE CLOSED. BY THIS TIME TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRENTY BUT FORD MTR. CO. AND THE DEALERSHIP AGREED TO PAY ALL BUT 75.00 OF THE REPAIRS. THE TRANS. SHFTS SMOOTHER NOW BUT IT'S UPSHIFT HARD ON TWO OCCASIONS FROM THIRD GEAR INTO OVERDRIVE. I'VE PULLED THE CAMPER APPROXIMATELY 600 MILES SINCE THE REPAIR AND THE TRANS. SHIFTED MUCH SMOTHER. MY PROBLEM NOW IS WITH MY AUTOMATIC LOCKING 4X4 HUBS. I'V USED THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE MAYBE 10 TIMES IN MUD AND SNOW, NEVER ON A HARD SURFACE AND ALWAYS RELEASED THE HUBS WHEN DISENGAGING THE DRIVE. THE HUBS WENT OUT ON 13JAN.2001 WHILE IN REVERSE AFTER TRAVELING THROUGH SNOW IN MY DRIVEWAY. HOPE OTHER OWNERS HAVE BETTER LUCK.

I HAVE A FORD F-350 7.3L TURBO DIESEL. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MPH., THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED BY HALF. AFTER I PULLED OVER THE LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO FOUND THE FUEL FILTER, THE FUEL PUMP, AND THE FUEL PICKUP SCREENS CLOGGED WITH RESIDUE FROM THE LINER OF THE FUEL TANKS. *TR

1. BEGAN SMELLING DIESEL FUEL IN CAB. THEN NOTICED DRIPS ON DRIVEWAY. 2. WENT TO SAWGRASS FORD ON DATE BELOW WHERE I WAS TOLD THIS IS THE FUEL FILTER/WATER SEPARATOR DRAIN VALVE, AND IT IS HAPPENING FREQUENTLY AND PART IS ON BACK-ORDER. THEY SAW LEAK IS ALMOST A STREAM ESPECIALLY WITH ENGINE RUNNING. 3. TWO WEEKS AND NO CALL FROM DEALER. *TR

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THIS WAS STILL UNDETERMINED.*AK

I OWN A 1996 FORD F-350 CREW CAB WITH A 7.3 LITER POWERSTROKE DIESEL. THE WIRING HARNESSON THE INTAKE MANAFOLD TO CONTROLE THE GLOWPLUGS MELTS AND SO DOES THE VALVE COVER GASKET OF WITCH THE WIREING HARNESS PASSES THROUGH IT WITH A PLUG X'S 2 AND THAN THE INTERNAL WIRING HARNESSES BURN UP UNDER THE VALVE COVER REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE DISSASEMBLED TO THE POINT OF THE HEAD TO REPLACE THE COMPONENTS. FURTHER MORE ON THE CLUTCH LINKAGE THERE IS A PLASTIC BUSHING THAT DISINTEGRATES QUITE OFTEN UNDER NORMAL USE. PARTS ARE AVAILABLE BUT THE WIREING PROBLEM IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX EVEN YOURSELF. THE CLUTCH LINKAGE IS FAIRLY EASY TO FIX BUT SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN IT DOES.*AK

DELIVERED NEW 22 MAR. 1996. TAKEN IN AT 16768 MILES ON 10-DEC. 96 FOR HARD SHIFTING OF AUTO. TRANS. ANDOIL LEAK FROM FRONT MAIN ENGINE SEAL. WAAS RETURNED TWO WKS. LATER FOR REAR ENGINE SEAL LEAK. MECHANICS REPLACED PARTS AND ADJ. TRANS. ENGINE OIL LEAKS STOPPED, BUT STILL HAD TRANS. SHIFT PROBLEMS. FRONT WHEELS BEGIN TO PULL HARD TO LEFT AFTER BEING TAKEN IN TO DEALER TO HAVE TIRES ROTATED. THEY HAD TO BE FORCED OFF HUB BY TWO MEN. FRONT END ALIGNEMENTS WERE DONE BUT AT 65000 MILES WHEELS STILL PULL TO THE LEFT. FIRESTONE 235/85/16 TIRE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF CRACKS IN BELTS BETWEEN TREAD. COST WAS PRORATED. TAKEN IN 02 APR. 97. STILL HAVING SHIFT PROBLEMS WITH TRANS. OIL LEAK FROM ENGINE OIL PAN AND PUMP GASKET. 30MAY 97 TAKEN IN FOR BOTH HEADLIGHT FAILURE. TRANS STILL HARD TO SHIFT. MECHANICS UNABLE TODETERMINE PROBLEM. IN AUG. 2000 TRUCK WAS IN AGAIN FOR SHIFT PROBLEMS AND TRANS SLIPPING. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING IN GEORGIA, PULLING A 36FT. FIFTHWHEEL WHEN TRANS. HAD A HARD TIME DOWNSHIFTING. THE TRANS. WAS LOCKED OUT OF OVERDRIVE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH. AND STARTED UP A HILL WHEN THE TRANS. WOULDN'T DOWN SHIFT. THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN TO 40 MPH. IN LESS THAN THAN 60 SECONDS, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HAD PROBLEMS PULLIN THE REST OF THE WAY TO MICHIGAN. THIS WAS LATE IN THE EVENING WHEN SHOPS ARE CLOSED. BY THIS TIME TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRENTY BUT FORD MTR. CO. AND THE DEALERSHIP AGREED TO PAY ALL BUT 75.00 OF THE REPAIRS. THE TRANS. SHFTS SMOOTHER NOW BUT IT'S UPSHIFT HARD ON TWO OCCASIONS FROM THIRD GEAR INTO OVERDRIVE. I'VE PULLED THE CAMPER APPROXIMATELY 600 MILES SINCE THE REPAIR AND THE TRANS. SHIFTED MUCH SMOTHER. MY PROBLEM NOW IS WITH MY AUTOMATIC LOCKING 4X4 HUBS. I'V USED THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE MAYBE 10 TIMES IN MUD AND SNOW, NEVER ON A HARD SURFACE AND ALWAYS RELEASED THE HUBS WHEN DISENGAGING THE DRIVE. THE HUBS WENT OUT ON 13JAN.2001 WHILE IN REVERSE AFTER TRAVELING THROUGH SNOW IN MY DRIVEWAY. HOPE OTHER OWNERS HAVE BETTER LUCK.

WHEN VEHICLE GOES OVER ROUGH PAVEMENTS IT JERKS SLIGHTY . THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

STEERING BOX FAILURE ON 1996 FORD F-350 FOUR WHEEL DRIVE,133"WHEEL BASE, CANADIAN BUILT TRUCK, CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING STEERING BOX BROKE, CAUSING LACK OF STEERING ABILITY WHICH RESULTED IN A SERIOUS CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

THE ROOF PANEL IS SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME. NO RUST PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED. *AK THE ROOF PANEL WOULD POP OPEN ON OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ROOF PANEL LOOKED AS IF IT WERE OPENED BY A CAN OPENER AND HAD RUN FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR TO THE MIDDLE OF THE TWO REAR DOORS. *SCC *JB

CROSS MEMBER, AT STEERING BOX, BREAKING FROM THE FRAME, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BOUNCE UNCONTROLLABLY. *AK

CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SERPENTINE BELT. IT KEEPS OF COMING OFF AND AS A RESULT, THERE IS A LOST OF THE BRAKES AND STEERING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PH

DELIVERED NEW 22 MAR. 1996. TAKEN IN AT 16768 MILES ON 10-DEC. 96 FOR HARD SHIFTING OF AUTO. TRANS. ANDOIL LEAK FROM FRONT MAIN ENGINE SEAL. WAAS RETURNED TWO WKS. LATER FOR REAR ENGINE SEAL LEAK. MECHANICS REPLACED PARTS AND ADJ. TRANS. ENGINE OIL LEAKS STOPPED, BUT STILL HAD TRANS. SHIFT PROBLEMS. FRONT WHEELS BEGIN TO PULL HARD TO LEFT AFTER BEING TAKEN IN TO DEALER TO HAVE TIRES ROTATED. THEY HAD TO BE FORCED OFF HUB BY TWO MEN. FRONT END ALIGNEMENTS WERE DONE BUT AT 65000 MILES WHEELS STILL PULL TO THE LEFT. FIRESTONE 235/85/16 TIRE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF CRACKS IN BELTS BETWEEN TREAD. COST WAS PRORATED. TAKEN IN 02 APR. 97. STILL HAVING SHIFT PROBLEMS WITH TRANS. OIL LEAK FROM ENGINE OIL PAN AND PUMP GASKET. 30MAY 97 TAKEN IN FOR BOTH HEADLIGHT FAILURE. TRANS STILL HARD TO SHIFT. MECHANICS UNABLE TODETERMINE PROBLEM. IN AUG. 2000 TRUCK WAS IN AGAIN FOR SHIFT PROBLEMS AND TRANS SLIPPING. WE HAD BEEN DRIVING IN GEORGIA, PULLING A 36FT. FIFTHWHEEL WHEN TRANS. HAD A HARD TIME DOWNSHIFTING. THE TRANS. WAS LOCKED OUT OF OVERDRIVE WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH. AND STARTED UP A HILL WHEN THE TRANS. WOULDN'T DOWN SHIFT. THE TRUCK SLOWED DOWN TO 40 MPH. IN LESS THAN THAN 60 SECONDS, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HAD PROBLEMS PULLIN THE REST OF THE WAY TO MICHIGAN. THIS WAS LATE IN THE EVENING WHEN SHOPS ARE CLOSED. BY THIS TIME TRUCK IS OUT OF WARRENTY BUT FORD MTR. CO. AND THE DEALERSHIP AGREED TO PAY ALL BUT 75.00 OF THE REPAIRS. THE TRANS. SHFTS SMOOTHER NOW BUT IT'S UPSHIFT HARD ON TWO OCCASIONS FROM THIRD GEAR INTO OVERDRIVE. I'VE PULLED THE CAMPER APPROXIMATELY 600 MILES SINCE THE REPAIR AND THE TRANS. SHIFTED MUCH SMOTHER. MY PROBLEM NOW IS WITH MY AUTOMATIC LOCKING 4X4 HUBS. I'V USED THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE MAYBE 10 TIMES IN MUD AND SNOW, NEVER ON A HARD SURFACE AND ALWAYS RELEASED THE HUBS WHEN DISENGAGING THE DRIVE. THE HUBS WENT OUT ON 13JAN.2001 WHILE IN REVERSE AFTER TRAVELING THROUGH SNOW IN MY DRIVEWAY. HOPE OTHER OWNERS HAVE BETTER LUCK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AIR WAS CONSTANTLY LEAKING FROM THE TIRES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RIMS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

WE HAVE HAD FOUR INSTANCES ON THIS VEHICLE WHERE THE LUGS ON THE WHEELS, BOTH FRONT AND BACK, HAVE SHEERED OFF. TWICE LEAVING US STRANDED FOR HOURS - INCLUDING A TERRIFYING NIGHT IN THE NEVADA DESERT, WITH OUR CHILDREN, STRANDED UNTIL FOUR IN THE MORNING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE GETTING INTO THE VEHICLE AND LEANING BACK SEATBACK COLLAPSED BACKWARD. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS WERE BEING MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST.*AK

CONSUMER WAS COMING TO A STOP WHEN A FORD RANGER REARENDED THEM. AT TIME OF IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBACKS BROKE AND COLLAPSED, CONSUMERS' BACK LAID DOWN AND BOTH WERE INJURED. CONSUMER'S TOOK VEHICLE TO A ALL-STATE INSURANCE. PRO-SHOP CALLED TOP OF THE WORLD 518-792-2473, MECHANIC WILL REPLACE L/R SEATBACKS/ RACHET MECHANISM AND EVERYTHING ON THE BOTTOMS. *AK

WINDOW DISENTEGRATED WITH OUT WARNING ANF FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE WERE NO CRACKS, CHIPS, OR ANY OTHER SIGNS OF DEFECTS IN THIS WINDOW. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MIGHT HAPPEN TO THE REMAINING WINDOWS, CAUSING INJURY TO MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS.

AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE,CAUSING A HOLE IN THE FUEL HEATER CORE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FRONT BUMPER REPLACED DUE TO POOR METAL FINISHING

FRONT END STABILIZER BAR BENT, CAUSING VIBRATION.

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED/FROZE UP AND CONTAMINATED SYSTEM, CAUSING OVER $1000 IN REPLACEMENT COST. ASKED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHY THE WHOLE SYSTEM WAS DESTROYED. HE SAID BECAUSE FORD IS USING ALUMINUM COMPRESSOR, AND WHEN BEARING DRIES OUT INSTEAD OF BEARING IT WEARING OUT THE CASING, CAUSING ALUMINUM POWDER TO CONTAMINATE THE SYSTEM. I FEEL THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE LACK OF SUFFICIENT OIL IN THE SYSTEM. FORD WILL NOT COVER THIS AS THE WARRANTY WAS JUST OUT. I FEEL THIS WAS THEIR FAULT FOR NOT HAVING THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF OIL. THE A/C WAS BLOWING COLD UNTIL IT FROZE UP, WHICH TELLS ME THAT IT HAD ENOUGH FREON. *AK